In case I come up with future ideas I'm going to call this "Part 1" just in case I feel like adding more to it. Part 1's topic: Selling Yourself Doesn't Stop at the Interview.
I think this is an important topic, and one that entry level professionals need to understand as they enter the workforce. Selling yourself does not end after that big interview and maybe land that job you wanted. If you manage to get the job on the first try, you're doing better than most. But I digress.
Say you land that job, now what? Do you think that everything is going to be handed to you on a silver platter? That work will come flooding into your office/desk/cubicle (or supply closet if you are Ryan in the later seasons of "The Office.")? Well from what I have seen so far, it's not exactly like that, and if you want to be a successful professional then it is DEFINTELY not like that.
Managers at companies, supervisors, project managers, leaders...they all like to work with people that create. Not necessarily in a creative artsy way, but in a "here are the resources, now do something with them" way. To create something from nothing, or transform things into something a better. I can't say that ALL leaders are like this, but I can say that the good ones are. But again, I'm going off on a tangent.
Basically, I can sum it up this way, using something one of my trusted mentors told me. "You are responsible for your workload. If you need work, tell people. Communicate with them. Do not wait until it is too late."
Like I said earlier, this may not apply directly to all jobs, but maybe in an indirect way it can. I'd like to point out the major points of that statement.
1. Responsibility - I am responsible. Not my cube neighbor...me, I am. You've probably heard that word before, and it's not new, but it can be. Start now to be responsible for your work. For the quality, for the efficiency, for the innovation, and many other ways.
2. Communicate - Despite what we hope sometimes, people cannot read our thoughts, nor can they know what goes on inside of us. Communication is an extremely important skill especially if you work in a team environment. Learn to explain your needs clearly, and in a professional manner. This can improve relationships at work and in our personal lives (which is not a bad thing).
3. Do not wait: be proactive - waiting for things to happen to you will not make things happen. That statement sounds redundant but it's true nonetheless. I'm reminded of what some coworkers of mine would say to me each time I confronted a challenging task. They would say "grab the bull by the horns." That's exactly what you got to do sometimes. Just go for it. Chances are you will likely be rewarded for your bravery over waiting for something to happen. Sitting by letting others do the work is never a smart option.
Chances are, no matter what job you land, you will never stop selling yourself, whether it is for your personal benefit or for your employer's. Selling yourself can mean a lot of things, but it primarily means thinking of yourself as a business, and if you were McDonalds you would be running that advertisement during the Super Bowl, or during the Olympics, or putting on a monopoly game to boost sales. If there is one skill I have come to value, that is the ability to sell, and if that makes you scared or nervous, there are ways to help. Lately I've been telling people often that rehearsing is a very good thing. So practice. The old adage is exactly right; "Practice makes perfect." If you learn and maintain this skill of selling yourself you will see success come from it.
Keep up the good work my fellow professionals!
MGBWY
